Did Ivan the Terrible really say 'God has given me power, and I will use it to crush my enemies.'?

Ivan the Terrible Quote Source & Citation:

God has given me power, and I will use it to crush my enemies.

— Ivan the Terrible Early Modern · First Tsar of Russia

Click any product to generate a realistic preview (~30s). Up to 3 at a time.

"The serpent's head must be crushed."

"I will make them crawl!"

"Better to be feared than loved, if one cannot be both."

"I am the shepherd of my flock, and I will protect them from wolves."

"I will make Russia tremble."

A common justification for his violent repression of opposition.

Date: c. 1560s

Religious

Unverifiable

Found in 1 providers: grok

1 source checked